Dispensing closure with orifice external seal

ABSTRACT

A dispensing closure system is provided for a container that has an opening to the container interior. The system includes a closure body with a dispensing orifice surrounded by an annular sealing surface. A removable cover includes a seal that is attached to the annular sealing surface and extends across the orifice to occlude the orifice. The cover also includes a tab having a free end that can be gripped by the user and pulled to remove the seal from the sealing surface and carry the cover away from the orifice.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to container closures for dispensing a fluentsubstance. The invention is more particularly related to a dispensingclosure system that is especially suitable for a hand-held container andthat may or may not include a lid that can be opened and closed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION AND TECHNICAL PROBLEMS POSED BY THE PRIORART

Fluent materials, including liquids, creams, powders, etc., may beconventionally packaged in a container having a dispensing closure whichincludes a closure body that is disposed over an open end of thecontainer and that defines one or more dispensing orifices communicatingwith the container interior. A cap or lid is typically provided forbeing closed on the body for occluding the body dispensing orifice(s)when the container is not in use. This prevents spillage if thecontainer is dropped or tipped over. The lid may also help keep thecontents fresh and may reduce the ingress of contaminants.

The inventor of the present invention has discovered a novel closuresystem for dispensing a fluent substance, including liquid, wherein theclosure system includes advantageous features not heretofore taught orcontemplated by the prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention, an improved dispensing closuresystem is provided for a container that has an opening to the containerinterior where a fluent substance may be stored. The system includes aclosure base or body for extending from the container at (and over) thecontainer opening. The closure body has a reduced size dispensingorifice for communicating with the container interior (which interiorcan be filled with a substance that can be dispensed through theorifice). The closure body also has a peripheral sealing surface aroundthe dispensing orifice. The system further includes a removable memberor cover initially occluding the dispensing orifice. The cover includesa seal removably adhered to the peripheral sealing surface. The coverhas a tab extending from the seal. The tab has a free end that can begrasped by a user and pulled to remove the seal from the closure bodyperipheral sealing surface and carry the cover away from the dispensingorifice.

The dispensing closure system may also include an optional lid formoving between (1) a closed position on top of the closure body toenclose said dispensing orifice and cover, and (2) an open position awayfrom the dispensing orifice and cover to permit the removal of thecover. If a lid is provided, the closure may also have a hingeconnecting the lid with the closure body.

The dispensing closure system components can be designed for easilyaccommodating the assembly of the components during manufacture of theclosure system.

The dispensing closure system can be provided with a design thataccommodates efficient, high quality, large volume manufacturingtechniques with a reduced product reject rate.

The dispensing closure system can optionally be designed to accommodateits use with a variety of conventional or special containers having avariety of conventional or special container finishes, includingconventional threaded or snap-fit attachment configurations. Thedispensing closure system could also be incorporated in a unitarycontainer/closure (e.g., a tube with unitary top and bottom ends and adispensing orifice in one of the ends), or in a closure that is bonded(e.g., with thermal welding or adhesive) to a container.

Numerous other advantages and features of the present invention willbecome readily apparent from the following detailed description of theinvention, from the claims, and from the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the accompanying drawings forming part of the specification, in whichlike numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary, isometric view of a first embodiment of aclosure system of the present invention in the form of a firstembodiment of a separate dispensing closure according to a preferred useof the invention, and the closure is shown installed on a container withthe closure lid closed;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary, isometric view similar to FIG. 1, but in FIG. 2the closure is shown with the lid in an opened condition and with thecover sealed to the spout over the dispensing orifice;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken generally along the plane 3-3 inFIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary, isometric view similar to FIG. 2, but FIG. 4shows the cover lifted off of the spout to open the orifice;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 3, but in FIG. 5 the closure is shownprior to sealing the cover to the spout, prior to closing the lid, andprior to installing the closure on a container;

FIG. 6 is an isometric view of a roll, reel, or spool of a ribbon orstrip product from which the dispensing orifice cover can be cut orstamped;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged, fragmentary, isometric view of the leading end ofa portion of the strip product shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a plan view of a leading end portion of the strip productshown in FIG. 7, and FIG. 8 further shows circular disks that can bepunched or cut in the strip to provide the circular cover shown in FIGS.2, 3, and 4;

FIG. 9 is an isometric view of a second embodiment of a separatedispensing closure according to a preferred use of the invention, andthe closure is shown in a closed condition prior to installation on acontainer;

FIG. 10 is an isometric view similar to FIG. 9, but in FIG. 10 theclosure is shown with the lid in an as-molded, opened condition and withthe cover sealed to the spout over the dispensing orifice;

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken generally along the plane 11-11in FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is an isometric view similar to FIG. 10, but FIG. 12 shows thecover lifted off of the spout to open the orifice; and

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 11, but in FIG. 13 theclosure components are shown in an exploded relationship.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many differentforms, this specification and the accompanying drawings disclose onlyone specific form as an example of the invention. The invention is notintended to be limited to the embodiment so described, however. Thescope of the invention is pointed out in the appended claims.

For ease of description, many of the figures illustrating the inventionshow the dispensing closure system as including a separate, removable,dispensing closure in the typical orientation that the closure wouldhave at the top of a container when the container is stored upright onits base, and terms such as upper, lower, horizontal, etc., are usedwith reference to this position. It will be understood, however, thatthe closure system of this invention may be manufactured, stored,transported, used, and sold in an orientation other than theorientations described.

The Dispensing Closure System on a Container

A preferred first embodiment of a dispensing closure system of thepresent invention is illustrated in the figures and is designatedgenerally therein by reference number 20 in FIG. 1. In the embodimentillustrated, the closure system 20 is provided in the form of a firstembodiment of a separate dispensing closure 20 which is adapted to bemounted or installed on a container 22 that would typically contain afluent substance.

The container 22 includes a neck 26 (FIG. 2) extending upwardly from amain hollow body portion of the container. The neck 26 defines anopening 27 (FIG. 3) to the container interior.

The container neck 26, in the preferred embodiment illustrated in FIG.3, has an external, male thread 29 for engaging the dispensing closuresystem 20. The main body portion of the container 22 may have anysuitable configuration, and the upwardly projecting neck 26 may have adifferent cross-sectional size and/or shape than the container main bodyportion. (Alternatively, the container 22 need not have a neck 26, perse. Instead, the container 22 may consist of only a main body with anopening.)

Although the container 22, per se, does not form a part of the broadestaspects of the present invention, per se, it will be appreciated that atleast a portion of the dispensing closure system 20 of the presentinvention optionally may be provided as a unitary portion, or extension,of the top of the container 22. The dispensing closure system could alsobe incorporated in a unitary container/closure (e.g., a tube withunitary top and bottom ends and a dispensing orifice in one of theends), or in a closure that is bonded (e.g., with thermal welding oradhesive) to a container. However, in the preferred embodimentillustrated, the dispensing closure system 20 is a completely separatearticle or unit (e.g., a dispensing closure 20), and is adapted to beremovably, or non-removably, installed either on a previouslymanufactured container 22 that has an opening 27 to the containerinterior. Hereinafter, the dispensing closure system or dispensingclosure 20 will be more simply referred to as the closure 20.

The illustrated embodiment of the closure 20 is adapted to be used witha container 22 having an opening 27 to provide access to the containerinterior and to a product (i.e., a material in the form of a fluentsubstance) contained therein. The closure 20 can be used to dispensesubstances, including, but not limited to, liquids, suspensions,mixtures, etc. (such as, for example, a food or beverage product, apersonal care product, an industrial or household cleaning product, orother compositions of matter (e.g., compositions for use in activitiesinvolving manufacturing, commercial or household maintenance,construction, agriculture, medical treatment, military operations,etc.)).

The container 22 with which the closure 20 may be used would typicallybe a squeezable container having a flexible wall or walls which can begrasped by the user and squeezed or compressed to increase the internalpressure within the container so as to force the product out of thecontainer and through the opened closure. Such a flexible container walltypically has sufficient, inherent resiliency so that when the squeezingforces are removed, the container wall returns to its normal, unstressedshape. Such a squeezable container is preferred in many applications butmay not be necessary or preferred in other applications. For example, insome applications it may be desirable to employ a generally rigidcontainer (including, but not limited to, a glass container), and topressurize the container interior at selected times with a piston orother pressurizing system, or to reduce the exterior ambient pressurearound the exterior of the closure so as to suck the material outthrough the open closure.

The General Arrangement of the Closure Components

As can be seen in FIG. 3, the presently most preferred form of theclosure 20 includes two basic components: (1) a unitary molded body orbase 30, and (2) a removable seal member or cover 31. Optionally, and asseen in the illustrated preferred embodiment, the closure 20 may alsoinclude a lid 32 and a hinge 34 connecting the lid 32 to the closurebody 30.

In the preferred form of the embodiment of the invention, the lid 32 isprovided to be closed over, and cover, the upper part of the closurebody 30. The lid 32 can be moved to expose the upper part of the closurebody 30 to accommodate dispensing of the fluent product from thecontainer 20. The lid 32 is movable between (1) a closed position overthe body 30 (as shown in FIG. 1), and (2) an open position (as show inFIG. 2). In the illustrated embodiment, the lid 32 is hinged to the body30 so as to accommodate pivoting movement of the lid 32 between theclosed position and the open position.

In the preferred embodiment illustrated, wherein the lid 32 is providedand wherein the lid 32 is connected to the closure body 30 with a hinge34 (FIG. 2), the hinge 34 may be of any suitable type. One form of ahinge 31 that may advantageously be used is the snap-action typedescribed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,321,923. Other types of hinges could beused. In some applications, the hinge could be omitted altogether, andthe lid 32 need not be connected to the body 30 at all. In otherapplications, it may be desirable to omit the lid 32 entirely.

It is presently contemplated that many applications employing theclosure body 30 and lid 32 will conveniently be realized by molding froma suitable thermoplastic material or materials. In the illustratedembodiment, the closure body and lid could be molded from a suitablethermoplastic material, such as, but not limited to, polypropylene. Theclosure body and lid may be molded from a different material ormaterials. The materials may have the same or different colors andtextures.

Additional Structural and Manufacturing Details

As can be seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, the body 30 includes a deck 40 and askirt 42 which extends downwardly from the closure body deck 40. As canbe seen in FIG. 2, the outer edge of the deck 40 includes two latchbeads 41—one on each side. In the preferred embodiment, as can be seenin FIG. 2, the upper edge of the skirt 42 defines a peripheral shoulder43, and the exterior surface of the skirt 42 includes vertical grooves44. As can be seen in FIGS. 3 and 5, the interior of the skirt 42defines an internal, female thread 46 for threadingly engaging thecontainer neck external, male thread 29 (FIG. 3) when the dispensingclosure body 30 is installed on the container neck 26.

Alternatively, the closure body skirt 42 could be provided with someother container connecting means, such as a snap-fit bead or groove (notillustrated) for engaging a container neck groove or bead (notillustrated), respectively. Also, the closure body skirt 42 couldinstead be permanently attached to the container 22 by means ofinduction melting, ultrasonic melting, gluing, or the like, depending onmaterials used for the closure body 30 and container 22. In anotheralternate design (not illustrated), the closure body 30 could be formedas a unitary part, or extension, of the container 22.

In the preferred embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3, an annular “crab'sclaw,” flexible, seal member 47 is provided to extend downwardly fromthe underside of the closure body deck 40 to seal against the upwardlyfacing annular surface of the container neck 26. Other seal designscould be employed, including a conventional “V” seal, a conventional“plug” seal, or some other such conventional or special seal, dependingupon the particular application.

The closure body skirt 42 may have any suitable configuration foraccommodating an upwardly projecting neck 26 of the container 22 or foraccommodating any other portion of a container received within theparticular configuration of the closure body skirt 42—even if acontainer does not have a neck, per se. The main part of the container22 may have a different cross-sectional shape than the container neck 26and closure body skirt 42. The closure body skirt 42 may be adapted formounting to other types of fluent substance handling container systems.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the container neckreceiving passage in the closure body skirt 42 has a generallycylindrical configuration, but includes the inwardly projecting thread46. However, the closure body skirt 42 may have other configurations.For example, the closure body skirt 42 might have a prism or polygonconfiguration adapted to be mounted to the top of a container neckhaving a polygon configuration. Such prism or polygon configurationswould not accommodate the use of a threaded attachment, but other meansof attachment could be provided, such as a snap-fit bead and groovearrangement, adhesive, or the like.

As shown in FIGS. 3-5, the closure body 30 has a reduced size, generallycylindrical, dispensing orifice 50 defined in a generally cylindricalspout 52 which projects upwardly from the deck 40 of the closure body30. The dispensing orifice 50 establishes communication between theexterior and the interior of the closure body 30 (and the orifice 50 canthereby establish communication with the interior of the container 22 towhich the body 30 is attached). The orifice 50 provides a flow passageor discharge passage through which the contents of the container 22 canbe discharged when the lid 32 is open and the cover 31 is removed. Thetop of the spout 52 has an upwardly facing, peripheral sealing surface54 around the orifice 50.

As can be seen in FIG. 3, the upper, outer edge of the spout 52 has achamfer or frustoconical surface 56 which slants downwardly andoutwardly from the outer edge of the peripheral sealing surface 54. Inother applications (not illustrated), the chamfer surface 56 may beomitted). In the preferred embodiment, the exterior of the spout 52between the lower edge of the frustoconical surface 56 and the deck 40defines a generally cylindrical surface 58. The cylindrical surface 58may be characterized as extending below both the spout annular surface54 and the frustoconical surface 56. In other applications (notillustrated), the orifice 50 (and/or spout 52) could be non-cylindrical.

As can be seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, the lid 32 includes a top wall or crosswall 60 and a peripheral wall 62 which, when the lid 32 is closed top ofthe closure body deck 40, has a downwardly projecting orientation anddefines a downwardly facing end surface 63 for fitting on the closurebody annular shoulder 41. As can be seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, the lid 32also has a generally annular sleeve 64 which projects from thetransverse wall 60 on the underside of the lid 32. The sleeve 64 alsopreferably includes an annular seal bead 68 (FIGS. 2-5).

There is sufficient resiliency in the lid sleeve 64 and/or closure bodyspout 52 so as to accommodate the closing of the lid 32 onto the body 30as shown in FIG. 1 wherein the lid sleeve seal bead 68 can be positionedon the spout cylindrical surface 58 to provide a substantiallyleak-tight seal. The sealing engagement between the closure body spout52 and the closed lid sleeve 64 provides a some resistance to subsequentopening of the lid 32. An additional resistance to lid opening is alsopreferably provided by other co-acting features in the lid 32 and body30. Specifically, each interior side of the lid flange 62 has aninwardly projecting latch bead 76 (FIG. 2). When the lid 32 is closed,the lid latch beads 76 are forced past the closure body latch beads 41.When the lid 32 is in the closed condition on the closure body 30 (FIG.1), the upwardly facing surface of each lid latch bead 76 is below, andis adapted to engage, the downwardly facing surface of an overlyingclosure body latch bead 41. The closure body 32 and/or the lid flange 62are sufficiently flexible to accommodate temporary, elastic deformationas the beads 41 and 76 move past each other during the opening andclosing actions. Other conventional or special latch designs could beused instead. In some applications, there may be no need for a latchsystem at all (especially if the hinge 34 is of the “snap-action” typeand has a very strong biasing force and/or if there is a strong,frictional sealing force between the lid sleeve 64 and the closure bodyspout 52.).

A finger-receiving surface or thumb-receiving surface 80 (FIGS. 1 and 3)may optionally be provided at the front of the closure lid 32. To openthe lid 32, the user initially pushes with a thumb or finger upwardly onthe lid surface 80.

The end consumer or other user of a fluent substance product in apackage consisting of a container with a closure of the presentinvention would initially open the closure 20 by lifting the lid 32 toexpose the spout 52 with the cover 31 initially sealed thereto. If theclosure was of a type that did not have a lid, than the user would firstencounter the closure with the cover 31 exposed to view but initiallysealed on the top of the spout 52.

As can be seen in FIG. 3, the cover 31 includes a base portion or seal80 and a tab 82 extending from the seal 80. The tab 82 has a free end 84that can be grasped by the user and pulled to remove the seal 80 fromthe closure body peripheral sealing surface 54 and carry the cover 31away from the dispensing orifice 50 to expose the dispensing orifice 50(see FIG. 4).

In the preferred embodiment illustrated, the seal 80 is a generallycircular disc having an exterior diameter equal to or less than theexterior diameter of the annular sealing surface 54. Further, in thepreferred embodiment, the tab 82 has a generally semi-circularconfiguration.

In the preferred embodiment, at least the peripheral margin of theunderside of the cover seal 80 (which overlies, and is attached to, thespout peripheral sealing surface 54) is attached by heat sealing or heatbonding to the spout annular sealing surface 54. Other forms ofattachment could be used, such as adhesive or the like. In one preferredembodiment, the spout annular sealing surface 54 (which is in contactwith the underside of the peripheral portion of the cover seal 80)preferably has a width or land dimension of about 0.060 inch. This hasbeen found to provide a sufficiently large contact surface to which theseal 80 can be bonded with satisfactory integrity for the typicalconsumer application and which allows the consumer to subsequently pullthe cover 31 off of the spout 52.

The cover 31, according to a preferred form of the invention, is madefrom a roll stock product marketed under the designation “unipac Lift‘n’ Peel™ LP-E” by Unipac Company (an ITW company), having an office at125 Edward Street, Aurora, Ontario, Canada L4G 1W3. Such a product isillustrated in FIG. 6-8. In FIG. 6, the roll stock product is designatedgenerally by the reference number 90 and is shown with an outwardlyextending, unrolled portion, ribbon, or strip 92. As can be seen in theenlarged view shown in FIG. 7, the strip 92 includes a base or sealportion 80A extending across the width of the strip, and also includes atab portion 82A. The tab portion 82A extends from the center of thewidth of the strip 92 along a bend line or hinge line 94.

According to Unipac literature, the above-discussed Unipac roll stockproduct includes a base sealable layer, a polyester layer, an aluminumfoil layer, a polyolefin foam layer, a polyester tab, a polymer adhesivelayer, and a polyester film layer. The base sealable layer, inconjunction with the aluminum foil layer, provides the strip productwith the capability for being heat sealed by conventional induction heatsealing equipment. According to Unipac literature, the sealable layerprovided on the bottom of the strip product is adapted to seal tovarious substrates, including polypropylene, polyethylene, polyvinylchloride, polystyrene, polyester, and ABS. The Unipac literature notesthat this product is a “tabbed inner seal” providing the advantage to acap manufacturer of permitting the use of a conventional punch and dieset for use when lining caps.

According to the present invention, individual covers 31 can be cut orpunched from the strip 92 to form the circular configuration of eachcover 31 and to create the semi-circular tab 82.

The closure manufacturer molds the closure body (as well as a lid if theclosure includes a lid) and maintains the closure in an openconfiguration (FIG. 4) so as to be able to receive one of the covers 31stamped from the roll stock strip 92. Suitable conventional linerplacement equipment and induction sealing unit equipment can be employedto place the cover 31 on the closure spout 52 and then thermally bondthe cover seal 80 (FIG. 3) to the peripheral sealing surface 54 of theclosure body spout 52. Such liner punch equipment, liner placementequipment, and induction sealing unit equipment may be of any suitableconventional or special type, the details of which form no part of thepresent invention.

According to the present invention, the manufacturer of the closure cutsor stamps each cover 31 from the roll stock strip 92 so that the cover31 has a size such that when the cover 31 is applied to the spout 52over the orifice 50, no peripheral portion of the cover 31 extendsoutwardly (laterally) beyond the edge of the sealing surface on the topof the spout. This provides a clean, aesthetically pleasing assembly. Inalternate forms of the invention (not illustrated), the cover 31 couldhave a shape other than circular. Also, the closure need not have aspout 52, per se. The annular sealing surface could instead be defineddirectly on a portion of the closure body deck 40.

According to the preferred form of the invention, the closuremanufacturer can provide the completed closure 20 in a closed conditionto the product filler. A product filler is typically a company thatfills a bottle or other container with a fluent substance product, andthereafter installs a closure on the filled container. With some typesof conventional packaging, a closure manufacturer provides each closureto the filler with a liner stuffed into the inside of the closure belowthe closure body deck (i.e., below the dispensing orifice in the deck).The filler must then install the closure (with the liner under theclosed body deck) on the container to compress the liner between theunderside of the closure body deck and the top of the container. Thenthe filler must convey the package through induction sealing equipmentso that the liner is heat-sealed to the top of the container under theclosure body deck.

In contrast, the present invention permits the closure manufacturer tosupply a completed, closed closure to the filler with the orificealready covered with a heat-bonded cover or seal so that the filler doesnot have to procure and use heat-sealing equipment.

The present invention also allows for the use of a much smallerdiameter, heat-sealed cover or seal compared to a typical conventionalliner that is provided under the closure body deck and which must extendacross the entire larger opening of the container on which the closureis installed. The use of such a conventional, larger diameter linersealed by induction sealing equipment after installation of the closureon the container can slow down the filling lines. In contrast, in thepresent invention, the use of a smaller diameter cover applied by theclosure manufacturer to a smaller spout (or other orifice-definingregion) on a closure enables the filler to run its filling line at ahigher speed.

The present invention provides the end use consumer or user with theadvantage of not having to initially remove a closure from a containerto expose a seal liner on the container top in order to remove that sealliner. With the present invention, the closure does not have to beremoved, and the end use consumer can conveniently remove the sealingcover from the top of the closure spout by readily lifting up on thetab.

Because the present invention employs a sealable cover which can be muchsmaller than a conventional liner that extends completely across theentire top of a container, there can be a significant difference inmaterial cost, and thus the present invention system may have a lowercost than such a conventional container top liner system.

Alternate Embodiment

A second embodiment of a closure system of the present invention isillustrated in FIGS. 9-13. The second embodiment of the system includesa separate dispensing closure 20A which is adapted to be installed onthe neck of a container (not illustrated). The container may be of anysuitable configuration. One suitable kind of container is the container22 illustrated in FIG. 3 and described above with reference to the firstembodiment of the closure 20.

As can be seen in FIG. 10, the closure 20A includes a unitary base orbody 30A, a removable seal member or cover 31A, and a lid 32A connectedby a hinge 34A to the body 30A. The closure 20A also includes a valve36A, and a valve retainer 38A visible in FIGS. 11 and 13.

The second embodiment closure body 30A is similar to the firstembodiment closure body 30 described above with reference to FIGS. 1-5.However, the second embodiment closure body 30A has a spout 52A (FIG.13) which is located in the center of the generally circular closurebody 30A, rather than toward the front of the closure body where thefirst embodiment closure spout 52 is located (compare to FIGS. 2 and10). The second embodiment closure body spout 52A projects upwardly froma deck 40A of the closure body 30A and defines a dispensing orifice 50A(FIG. 13) to provide a flow passage or discharge passage through whichthe contents can flow from a container (not illustrated) to which theclosure 20A is attached. Below the deck 40A, the closure body 30Adefines a female thread 46A for threadingly engaging a mating malethread of a container.

As can be seen in FIGS. 12 and 13, the top of the spout 52A has anupwardly facing, peripheral sealing surface 54A around the orifice 50A.The upper, outer edge of the spout 52A has a curved surface 56A (FIG.13) which slants outwardly and downwardly from the outer edge of theperipheral sealing surface 54A. In the preferred form of the secondembodiment of the closure 20A, the spout 52A has an exterior surfacebetween the upper curved surface 56A and the closure body deck 40A, andthat exterior surface defines a generally cylindrical surface 58A (FIG.13).

On the interior of the spout 52A, the spout defines a generallyfrustoconical surface 59A (FIG. 13) for engaging the valve 36A asdescribed in detail hereinafter.

The second embodiment closure lid 32A has generally the same structureas described above for the first embodiment closure lid 32 illustratedin FIG. 5, except that the second embodiment closure lid 32A has anannular sleeve 64A located in the center of the lid 32A (rather thannear the front edge) for fitting over, and sealing against, the spout52A when the lid 32A is closed.

The valve 36A is adapted to be mounted in the closure spout 52A as shownin FIG. 11. The preferred form of the valve 36A is apressure-actuatable, flexible, slit-type valve which is retained on theinside of the spout 52A by means of the retaining ring 38A as describedin detail hereinafter.

The valve 36A is preferably molded as a unitary structure from materialwhich is flexible, pliable, elastic, and resilient. This can includeelastomers, such as a synthetic, thermosetting polymer, includingsilicone rubber, such as the silicone rubber sold by Dow Corning Corp.in the United States of America under the trade designation D.C.99-595-HC. Another suitable silicone rubber material is sold in theUnited States of America under the designation Wacker 3003-40 by WackerSilicone Company. Both of these materials have a hardness rating of 40Shore A. The valve 36A could also be molded from other thermosettingmaterials or from other elastomeric materials, or from thermoplasticpolymers or thermoplastic elastomers, including those based uponmaterials such as thermoplastic propylene, ethylene, urethane, andstyrene, including their halogenated counterparts.

In the preferred embodiment illustrated, the valve 36A has theconfiguration and operating characteristics of a commercially availablevalve design substantially as disclosed in the U.S. Pat. No. 5,676,289with reference to the valve 46 disclosed in the U.S. Pat. No. 5,676,289.The operation of such a type of valve is further described withreference to the similar valve that is designated by reference number 3din the U.S. Pat. No. 5,409,144. The descriptions of those two patentsare incorporated herein by reference thereto to the extent pertinent andto the extent not inconsistent herewith.

The valve 36A is flexible and changes configuration between (1) aclosed, rest position (as shown closed in an upright position in FIGS.11 and 13), and (2) an active, open position (not shown). The valve 36Aincludes a flexible, central portion or head 160A (FIG. 13). When thevalve 36A is not actuated, the head 160A has a concave configuration(when viewed from the exterior of the closure spout 52A). The head 160Apreferably has two, mutually perpendicular, planar, intersecting,dispensing slits (not visible) of equal length which together define anormally closed dispensing orifice. The intersecting slits define four,generally sector-shaped, equally sized flaps or petals in the concave,central head 160A. The flaps open outwardly from the intersection pointof the slits in response to an increasing pressure differential acrossthe valve 36A when the pressure differential is of sufficientmagnitude—in the well-known manner described in the U.S. Pat. No.5,409,144.

As can be seen in FIG. 13, the valve 36A includes a skirt or sleeve 164Awhich extends from the valve head 160A. The sleeve 164A extends in areverse angled orientation (when the valve 36A is in the unactuated,rest condition) and merges with an enlarged, much thicker, peripheralflange 170A which has a generally dovetail-shaped, transverse crosssection (as viewed in FIG. 13).

To accommodate the seating of the valve 36A in the spout 52A, the topsurface of the dovetail valve flange 170A has the same frustoconicalconfiguration and angle as the spout frustoconical surface or seat 59A.The other surface (i.e., bottom surface) of the valve flange 170A isengaged and clamped by the retaining ring 38A (FIGS. 11 and 13). Theretaining ring 38A includes an outwardly or upwardly facing,frustoconical, annular clamping surface 172A (FIG. 13) for engaging theaxially inner surface (i.e., bottom surface) of the valve flange 170A atan angle which matches the angle of the adjacent, inner surface of thedovetail configuration of the valve flange 170A.

The peripheral portion of the retaining ring 38A includes an outwardlyprojecting flange 178A (FIG. 13) for snap-fit engagement with theannular bead 142A (FIG. 13) that projects radially inwardly on theinside of the spout 52A. The valve 36A can be inserted into the openbottom end of the spout 52A along with the retaining ring 38A. The valve36A is initially mounted on the retainer ring clamping surface 172A.Then the retaining ring 38A can be pushed past the spout bead 142Abecause there is sufficient flexibility in the retaining ring 38A and/orspout 52A to accommodate temporary, elastic deformation of thecomponents as the retaining ring flange 178A passes over, and beyond,the spout bead 142A to create a snap-fit engagement that compresses orclamps the valve flange 170A against the spout frustoconical surface59A.

The cover 31A has the same structure and function as does the cover 31described above for the first embodiment of the closure 20 illustratedin FIGS. 1-8. To this end, the second embodiment closure cover 31A has abase portion or seal 80A and a tab 82A extending from the seal 80A (FIG.12). The tab 82A can be grasped by the user and pulled to remove theseal 80 from the closure body peripheral sealing surface 54A and carrythe cover 31A away from the dispensing orifice 50A to expose thedispensing orifice 50A (FIG. 12). The detailed configuration, structure,and manner of making and applying the cover 31A to the second embodimentof the closure 20A are identical to what has been described above forthe first embodiment closure cover 31 illustrated in FIGS. 1-8.

If desired, the second embodiment of the closure 20A could be modifiedby omitting altogether the lid 32A and hinge 34A.

It will be readily observed from the foregoing detailed description ofthe invention and from the illustrations thereof that numerous othervariations and modifications may be effected without departing from thetrue spirit and scope of the novel concepts or principles of thisinvention.

1. A dispensing closure system for a container that has an opening tothe container interior where a fluent substance may be stored, saiddispensing closure system comprising: (A) a closure body for extendingfrom said container at said container opening, said closure body having(1) a reduced size dispensing orifice for communicating with thecontainer interior, and (2) a peripheral sealing surface around saiddispensing orifice; and (B) a removable cover occluding said dispensingorifice, said cover including a seal removably adhered to saidperipheral sealing surface, said cover having a tab extending from saidseal, said tab having a free end that can be grasped by a user andpulled to remove said seal from closure body peripheral sealing surfaceand carry said cover away from said dispensing orifice.
 2. Thedispensing closure system in accordance with claim 1 further including(A) a lid for moving between (1) a closed position on top of saidclosure body to enclose said dispensing orifice and cover, and (2) anopen position away from said dispensing orifice and cover to permit theremoval of said cover; and (B) a hinge connecting said lid with saidclosure body.
 3. The dispensing closure system in accordance with claim1 for use with a container that has an annular top end defining (1) anopening, and (2) an external, male thread around said opening, and inwhich said closure system is a dispensing closure that (1) is separatefrom, but releasably attachable to, said container around said containeropening, and (2) comprises (A) said closure body, and (B) said removablecover occluding said dispensing orifice; said closure body has a hollow,generally cylindrical skirt which has an internal, female thread forthreadingly engaging said male thread on said container; and saidclosure body includes (a) a deck at the top of said skirt, and (b) aspout that projects outwardly from said deck to define said peripheralsealing surface around said dispensing orifice.
 4. The dispensingclosure system in accordance with claim 1 in which said closure bodyincludes a spout that (1) projects outwardly around said dispensingorifice, and (2) has a distal end that defines said peripheral sealingsurface in the form of an annular sealing surface around said dispensingorifice.
 5. The dispensing closure system in accordance with claim 4 inwhich said spout has a generally exterior cylindrical surface below saidannular sealing surface.
 6. The dispensing closure system in accordancewith claim 5 in which (A) said closure system further includes a lid formoving between (1) a closed position on top of said closure body toenclose said dispensing orifice and cover, and (2) an open position awayfrom said dispensing orifice and cover to permit the removal of saidcover; (B) said closure system further includes a hinge connecting saidlid with said closure body; and (C) said lid includes a generallyannular sleeve for (1) surrounding said spout distal end and saidremovable cover on said spout when said lid is in said closed positionprior to removal of said cover from said annular sealing surface, and(2) sealingly engaging said spout exterior cylindrical surface when saidlid is in said closed position.
 7. The dispensing closure system inaccordance with claim 4 in which said seal is a generally circular diskhaving an exterior diameter equal to or less than the exterior diameterof said annular sealing surface.
 8. The dispensing closure system inaccordance with claim 1 in which said peripheral sealing surface is anannular sealing surface having a width of not less than about 0.060inch.
 9. The dispensing closure system in accordance with claim 4 inwhich said closure system further includes a pressure-actuatable valvemounted within said spout below said peripheral sealing surface.
 10. Thedispensing closure system in accordance with claim 9 in which saidclosure system further includes a retaining ring holding said valvewithin said spout.
 11. The dispensing closure system in accordance withclaim 1 in which said spout has a curved or chamfered surface aroundsaid peripheral sealing surface.
 12. The dispensing closure system inaccordance with claim 1 in which said seal is a generally circular disk;and said tab has a generally semi-circular configuration.